Anvil

Overview

Anvil combines client-side and server-side Python with a drag-and-drop interface designer, built-in authentication and email. Data Tables provide a Postgres-backed database, while apps can run on Anvil hosting or be exported to the open-source Anvil App Server. HTTP APIs and Uplink extend apps to external Python code.

The documented integrations include Google, Microsoft Entra ID, Facebook, Stripe and Tableau; Python SDKs can connect other services. Anvil says its hosted infrastructure runs in London on AWS eu-west-2, a relevant consideration for teams weighing hosting location.

Key features

Build and connect apps

The visual designer and Python on both sides of an app make Anvil a focused route from interface to working web application. Built-in authentication and email cover common app requirements, and HTTP APIs and Uplink provide ways to connect other systems. This breadth is useful for small teams avoiding separate tools, though it also ties the app’s development workflow to Anvil’s environment.

Data, deployment and mobile access

Data Tables are convenient for apps that benefit from an integrated database, but the Free plan’s 50,000-row and 100 MB limits make capacity a decision to revisit as data grows. Hosting on Anvil reduces deployment overhead; exporting to the open-source App Server offers another route for operators who want to run it themselves.

Apps are responsive on phones and tablets and are Progressive Web Apps installable on Android, iPhone and Chromebook, with offline operation. That is useful for mobile access without changing the product’s web-app focus.

Development and security

Anvil includes an integrated debugger, profiler and Python environment tools, with AI-assisted code intelligence. Anvil says its API removes common flaws such as injection, XSS and CSRF, and that its AI agents run in isolated sandboxes without access to a user’s infrastructure or local machine. These are relevant safeguards, but they do not replace an application’s own security review.

Pricing

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free, billed Free forever. It includes unlimited apps, cloud hosting, library installation and one developer, alongside the 50,000-row and 100 MB Data Table caps. The 30-second background-task timeout is a further constraint for work that runs beyond a brief operation. This is a useful starting plan for prototypes and modest apps, but not a substitute for checking workload and data needs.

Hobby is aimed at personal projects and one developer only. It adds no Anvil banner, Scheduled Tasks, one custom domain, 150,000 Data Table rows and 10 GB of storage. Its price is custom pricing; the pricing display shows annual and monthly figures across USD, GBP and EUR, but does not resolve a single price here.

Business is for professional use and supports one or more developers, app collaboration, SSO in apps and staging environments, with community support and 1,000,000 Data Table rows. It is custom pricing, with displayed annual and monthly figures across USD, GBP and EUR; VAT is excluded. Teams needing collaboration and staging have a clearer fit here than on the single-developer plans.

Production is custom pricing and adds private support, reserved resources, unlimited extra compute and SQL access to Data Tables. The displayed annual and monthly figures span USD, GBP and EUR, and VAT is excluded. Private support responds to development questions within 24 working hours, making this the relevant tier for production workloads that need reserved capacity and support.

Enterprise uses custom pricing and offers private deployment on-premises or in the cloud, corporate authentication and full isolation. It is the choice for organizations requiring those deployment and isolation arrangements rather than standard hosted use.

Platforms

Anvil is associated with web, iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, API and self-hosted platforms. Created apps are responsive web apps, and their installable PWA form supports Android, iPhone and Chromebook.

Who it's for

Anvil suits Python developers building web applications who value a visual UI builder, integrated data and a choice between hosted deployment and a self-run server. It is particularly attractive for individual builders starting on Free or personal projects on Hobby. Teams needing collaboration, SSO and staging should consider Business; organizations needing private deployment or isolation should look at Enterprise. Developers seeking a general-purpose desktop Python IDE rather than an app-building platform may prefer another tool.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Client- and server-side Python, visual design, database and hosting are integrated, reducing the number of separate components needed for an app.
• Pros: Free permits unlimited apps and library installation, with export to the open-source App Server as an alternative to Anvil hosting.
• Pros: Installable, offline-capable PWAs extend responsive apps to phones and tablets.
• Cons: Free’s 50,000-row, 100 MB storage and 30-second task limits may rule it out for data-heavy or long-running workloads.
• Cons: Free is limited to one developer; collaboration, SSO and staging start at Business.
• Cons: Paid plans use custom pricing here, so comparing their cost requires a direct quote.

Alternatives

For a conventional desktop Python IDE, Eric is a free option for Linux, macOS and Windows, with no stated price or usage limits. PyCharm is another desktop choice for those who want a free plan with one month of Pro included, or Pro at 200.00 USD per year per user. Scientific Python users can consider Spyder, a free open-source scientific IDE for Linux, macOS, web and Windows. Positron is a free desktop alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows. Windows users seeking a free Python IDE can also consider PyScripter; those looking for a free GPLv3+ IDE with Windows and Linux installers can consider NINJA-IDE. LiClipse is a paid alternative with a free trial, and Thonny is a free option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

For category browsing, see Python IDEs and Low-Code Development Platforms.

Verdict

Choose Anvil if you want to build Python web apps with interface design, data, authentication and deployment brought together, and value a free starting point or self-hosted export. Look elsewhere if your work depends on larger free-tier data capacity, longer background tasks or a conventional desktop Python IDE.